Responsibility (open-ish)

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael sighed, he wished he had never sent that letter. Emilian would never have come, everything would be fine. He felt thoroughly responsible for everything that Emilian had done. He hadn't spoken to Annabelle since he had sent that letter home and he was worried about her. There was always the chance she hadn't met up with him, but every day that passed without seeing her added to his paranoia.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle walked into the entrance hall with Adara and Emilian and was so relieved to see Michael. She hadn't arranged to meet him, and was greatful she hadn't had to search for him. She hurried over to him, threw her arms around his shoulders and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Anna needed the comfort of touching him, but still wasn't comfortable with PDA. "I want you to meet my new friend, Adara." She said nodding her head towards the others. "And your friend, Emilian, decided to join us." She purposely added the title to see Michael's reaction.

[Adara Snow]

Adara had kept her hand wrapped in Emilian's during the short walk. She was walking on air, having decided firmly that Emilian was courting her. "I am so happy to meet you, Michael," she said, smiling shyly. Her smile became one of friendship and approval as she turned it on Annabelle. "You didn't tell me he was so handsome," she said. Adara glanced up at Emilian from beneath thick lashes, trying to judge his reaction.

[Emilian Sota]

Emilian looked down at Adara and murmured, "He has nothing on me," with a slightly cocky grin before looking up at Michael. "Michael, how have you been?" He leaned in to Adara, their arms pressed together. He had decided that the only way he would be able to keep the chance of Adara would be to keep as much contact as possible. The little game leading up to getting her could be fun, but his lack of female contact had been driving him insane.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael smiled at Anna, she seemed to be alright. The sight of her calmed him, until she mentioned Emilian. "My friend?" he asked softly, confused. He kept a protective arm around her waist, holding her close to him, as he looked up at the other two. The sight of Emilian hand in hand with a girl was strange to him, usually Emilian skipped that phase. He nodded to Adara, "It's a pleasure," he said, choosing to ignore her other comment in ley of turning his gaze to Emilian.

"I've been better," he answered. "Enjoying yourself?" he asked, not taking his eyes from Emilian's. He knew that the other guy would know what he was talking about.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle smiled at Adara's comment, but her smile quickly faltered at the heavy tones of conversation. She could tell her suspicions were correct. She tilted her head back up to Michael and softly whispered, "He said he was your friend from before, but implied that he was good. I don't believe him." She knew the others would have seen her whispering, but didn't care. If she had any hope to keep Adara away from Emilian, it rest in Michael.

[Adara Snow]

Adara's skin seemed to burn where Emilian pressed against her, a strange sensation even if one did not consider that none of the heat came from his unnaturally cool body. It took her a few moments to be able to concentrate, but she was lucky enough not to have missed any of the conversation.

Adara politely averted her eyes while Anna whispered to Michael. She could not help smiling at the thought that Dru must have been wrong. If Emilian had ever been the things that she said he was, he must have repented. Michael had affirmed his friendship with Emilian, though not in as friendly a manner as she might have expected. She wondered why not, if it was because Emilian knew the horrible things that Michael had done so long ago, if he was afraid that Emilian would judge him harshly for those things. Adara watched and listened curiously, forcing herself to pay as much attention as possible.

[Emilian Sota]

"Actually," Emilian said, smiling down at Adara, "I am, though I think Adara and I both would be enjoying ourselves much more if..." he trailed off and looked coolly at Annabelle, "Certain others would leave us be." Michael didn't know Adara, so it was safe to assume he didn't know how naive the girl seemed to be. If Emilian was lucky, Michael would assume that Adara knew and accepted who he was.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael nodded at Annabelle's words, it was only what he would have expected from Emilian. "That's just like him," he said back to her, before looking at Adara. Either she was completely clueless, or she didn't care. "So, Emilian," he said, raising his voice from the whisper he had used with Anna. "Is she the next life you're going to destroy?"

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle's eyes widened at Michael's words. Destroy? Without knowing the whole story, she could only trust Michael at the moment. She really hated the feeling of not knowing the facts. She looked at Adara, even more worried for her than before.

[Adara Snow]

Adara inhaled sharply, her eyes deep black as she looked at Michael. "Destroy," she repeated, "But I thought you were friends." Adara shifted away from Emilian, an unconscious gesture to put between them the space she needed to think. "It's not true," she breathed. Her hand loosened in his and moved to slip away as her eyes searched Emilian's. Tell me.

[Emilian Sota]

"Now why would I destroy my dear Adara's life?" Emilian asked Michael, ignoring Adara's words. He was losing her, he knew it. Even if she left, perhaps he would be able to find her down some corridor sometime in the future. Even as he refused to look at her he took a fresh hold on her hand, refusing to let her go.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael took his arm from around Anna and drew his wand, keeping it down at his side. "You've had no qualms about ruining other lives since you've arrived here." He didn't particularly want a fight, but he had seen how Emilian wasn't letting Adara have her space, and he was willing to use magic if necessary.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle took a small step to the side, so she was out of the way. She looked between Michael and Emilian, hoping things wouldn't resort to curses. "Adara." Anna pleaded waving her over and hoping she would come join her out of the way. She didn't want either of them involved in any longstanding feud.

[Adara Snow]

Adara tugged lightly at her hand as she back away, but it seemed useless even to try. Her eyes pleaded with Emilian to let her go, to let her think. Her heart was pounding fiercely at the sudden fear that Dru had been right, that Ryan had been right, and tears gathered in her eyes as she spoke. "Emilian, what is he saying? I thought you were friends." She tugged at her hand again, though the motion was halfhearted. She still had hope that he could make things right.